A GRAVE LEGACY FOR THE NEXT GENERATION
UN General Assembly president tells Caline Malek of his fears about the terrible impact of global warming
The world needs another $100 billion (Dh367.3bn) a year to achieve the goals set out in the Paris Accord on climate change, the president of the UN general assembly said yesterday.
Miroslav Lajcak, who is visiting for Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, said the event was an opportunity to discuss the problems associated with meeting targets.
“We agreed in Paris to limit global warming to below 2°C [above pre-industrial levels] and eventually if possible below 1.5°C, but we are not delivering,” Mr Lajcak said before giving a lecture at the Emirates Diplomatic Academy.
“We’re short $100bn a year to do so, so we need to talk about that.
“The good thing is we are able to agree on policies, but this agreement should be followed by concrete action, and the action is missing in many cases.
“So we need to have events like Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week and speak about positive examples, speak openly about the problems and link our ambitions and plans with financial resources.”
Mr Lajcak said global warming was a reality that affected living conditions around the world.
“We can’t guarantee that the living conditions for our children will be better than they were for us, and this is a grave risk,” he said.
“There are countries that are disappearing from the surface of the planet, there are people who were forced to leave their homes because they are no longer liveable.”
The challenges facing the world today, including climate change, terrorism and migration are global in nature and therefore require an international effort, Mr Lajcak said.
“No country can solve them alone or deal with them at a national level,” he said.
“I regret the withdrawal of the United States from a number of processes, including the Global Compact for Migration, but the good thing is it strengthened the resolve of the rest of the international community to deliver.
“I hope this withdrawal is temporary and I am looking forward to the return of the US to these processes.”
He spoke of the UAE as a leading example for countries in a number of areas, including sustainable development, sustainable energy and diversification of its economy.
“The UAE is also a leader when it comes to providing developmental assistance, so it can influence the situation in the region and countries in the region in a most positive way,” Mr Lajcak said.
“I would like to encourage it to lead by example and to engage in this direction, because there is no better argument than leading by example.”
He said he hoped to see more collaboration between the Middle East and UN.
“I wish to see the region as a whole contributing to the work of the UN and being part of the solution of the issues we are dealing with,” Mr Lajcak said.
“The number one problem is the situation in Yemen and the huge humanitarian suffering that comes as a consequence of the conflict and I hope we will find a political solution and one that will help to end the suffering of people.”
Mr Lajcak also plans to visit Kuwait and Qatar.
He said he hoped his trip would help give him insight into the Gulf crisis and the chance to “hear from the actors on the ground how they see the solution of the current situation”. It’s not about whether it will be resolved or not, it’s when, because there is no alternative.
“This is what diplomacy is for. This region has a great ability to deal with internal or regional issues and I am confident this will be the case this time as well.”
Bernardino Leon, director general of the academy, said Mr Lajcak had extensive experience in challenging regions, such as the Balkans.
“The General Assembly is the most important organ of the UN and the UN is the most important international organisation in the world,” Mr Leon said.
“Negotiation is the most important and difficult activity. But he has rich experience for us to understand.”